infoTECH News

[January 25, 2013]

Telephone phishing scam targets Chino Federal Credit Union customers

SILVER CITY, Jan 25, 2013 (Silver City Sun-News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Chino Federal Credit Union is the victim of a scam again and new CEO Greg Shaver is working with the Secret Service and other authorities to put an end to it.

The telephone phishing scam targets customers and non-customers through randomly dialed automated phone calls and requests that customers input their 16-digit card number and PIN. This is at least the second time the credit union has been targeted.

In July 2010, Chino Federal was targeted and hundreds of customers were contacted and several fell victim to the scam at that time but the credit union restored any funds that were withdrawn from customers account.

But then -- like now -- the scammers are asking Chino's customer's to voluntarily put in their personal information. Customer's account's have not been hacked and the credit union's security has not been compromised or breached. The only way scammers are able to get money out of a customer's account is if the customer voluntarily gives out their personal information.

"This is a total fraud scam," said Shaver, who has been CEO since July. "We know it's frustrating for our members and non-members both and we are in contact with the Secret Service, the New Mexico State Police and the Attorney General's Office and I'm personally doing everything I can to put a stop to it."
Shaver said he thinks the reason the scam has returned is that scammers had a little bit of success with it previously in getting people to give out their personal information and then being able to access accounts, so they have targeted Chino and it's customers again. He said it's frustrating for the credit union as well because it is affecting their reputation and dragging the credit union's name through the mud.

He said the best protection is to never give out any account information if you receive one of the automated calls.

"We are never going to call you and ask for your private information because we have it," he said. "And no one ever should know your PIN number but you."
The New Mexico Attorney General's Office sent out alert warning people of the scam.

It said:
Silver City, Deming, and Bayard's Chino Federal Credit Union alerted the New Mexico Attorney General's Office to the latest financial institution phishing scam to be reported in New Mexico. Members and non-members alike are receiving an automated telephone call requesting their 16 digit account number to "reactivate your account." Reported calls have been received on home and cell phones. The danger to consumers who respond include losing funds from accounts and potential identity theft. Do not respond to this call."
The Attorney General's Office reported that Chino Federal Credit Union had received more than 300 calls as of Wednesday from members and non-members reporting this scam. Members who have shared their personal information when the scam call was received should visit their Chino Federal Credit Union branch to report it and change their passwords on accounts.

The credit union also posted a warning on its website, instructing people not to give their account number information out to anybody they can not identify, including any automated calls.